A/HRC/FMI/2010/1 4. Work and social security 8. Issues for presentation and discussion could include good practices to ensure the right of minorities to work as well as the obstacles they face in the fulfilment of that right, in law and in practice (for example, discriminatory legislation, language requirements to work with the public service, lack of a regulatory framework for employment in the agriculture and domestic service sectors, and regulations on street vending and other aspects of the informal sector). Issues for discussion could also include ensuring qualification for employment (such as through vocational training); equal access (nondiscrimination) and opportunities for employment; and ensuring access to social security for minorities and considering programmes such as micro-insurance schemes. 5. Discrimination and positive measures/affirmative action 8. The use of special measures is a fundamental component of the realization of the right to equality. The first step preceding such positive measures must be a review of current systems and the immediate cessation of any discriminatory practice. Positive measures may include training and recruitment initiatives or quotas in public- or privatesector employment to promote access to labour markets for minorities. Issues for discussion could include addressing systematic, historic and institutionalized discrimination, nondiscrimination during recruitment, and access to labour markets. 6. Meaningful and effective participation in economic and development policy-making 9. Issues for presentation and discussion could include the barriers that minority populations face when seeking to enjoy their right to participate in decision-making processes regarding economic matters, including representation in Government bodies responsible for policy development and decision-making; consultation in the creation and monitoring of policies (such as poverty reduction strategy papers and the Millennium Development Goals); and consultation in national budget allocation. Governments will be invited to describe steps taken to guarantee the inclusion of minorities and minority issues in the development and implementation of their national policies. Minorities will be invited to discuss the role that minority policymakers should play in formulating and implementing laws and policies to support and promote equal rights and opportunities in the public sector. 7. Concrete steps to advance and build the capacity of minorities to participate effectively in economic life 10. Issues for presentation and discussion could focus on the draft recommendations that participants will have before them. The objective would be to formulate practical policies, actions or programmes that would generate a greater degree of minority participation in economic life at the national, regional and local levels. 8. Concluding remarks 11. The Chairperson of the Forum and the independent expert on minority issues will share their concluding remarks, including forward-looking proposals for next steps, with Forum participants. 3